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Who Cares About Poison Ivy? Rivers of
Faith, Part 19: : Warring Worriers
We were walking the Mirador Trail on Grosse-île, Quebec. It was
hot, and since this was a circular trail, my wife had left her heavy
backpack near a tree at the entrance. Surrounded by the trees and
shrubs characteristic of the region, we were thoroughly enjoying
ourselves when we were joined by a fast-moving park ranger. It was
soon time for our boat to leave Grosse-île, and she was concerned
we would be left behind. Seeing that we were already nearly half-way
around the trail and that we were moving quickly enough to not miss
our boat, she fell into step with us and became our personal guide.
At one point in time she warned us about the dangers of poison ivy,
locally known as l'herbe de puce. Now my wife isn't bothered by
poison ivy. As a child, she had the opportunity to drink the fresh
milk of goats who had been fed with poison oak, and ever since, she
appears to have developed some type of an immunity to both pesty
plants. She also knows how to identify them, a skill which is useful
in helping me to stay away from the menace as well!
So once back at the trail head, she didn't hesitate to reach behind
the tree, surrounded by weeds, to get her backpack.
"Be careful!" Called out the friendly ranger. "There might be poison
ivy in there!"
As my wife emerged from the brush, the ranger's eyes fell on her
left shin, which was red and somewhat swollen. Her face turned ashen
as she pointed to the injury and muttered some incomprehensible
words. She was certain that her words of warning had gone unheeded,
and that my wife had fallen prey to the fowl plant.
My wife smiled, trying vainly to reassure our personal guide that
the plant in question was not to blame. What the ranger didn't know
was that while climbing Mont Erable the day before, she had slipped
and scraped her shin.
Despite the explanation, the ranger's fears didn't calm. She was
absolutely certain my wife had gotten into Poison Ivy, despite her
warning.
Are we any better? Don't we all worry over things that turn out, in
the long run, to really be nothing? The moment they show up, these
worries seem to glue themselves into our brains as a constant
reminder of their troubling existence, but in all reality, they
serve no useful function whatsoever. Unless that is, we enjoy being
kept up all night!
Jesus assures us: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your
life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will
wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more
important than clothes?" (Matt 6:25 NIV) In other words Jesus is
making us aware that life is more important than all of our worries
put together. Can we call it real living if we constantly worry or
are they rather life-snatchers devoiding us from any meaningful
existence? "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his
life?" (Matt 6:27 NIV)
"Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matt 6:26 NIV)
"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here
today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more
clothe you, O you of little faith?" (Matt 6:30 NIV)
If God willingly died on a cross for us, can't we truly trust Him?
Can't we relinquish control of these little nuisances that we
consider more important than life itself?
But no, just like the friendly park ranger wouldn't give up her
worry that my wife had gotten into Poison Ivy, we choose to cling to
our worries, as if giving them over to God will mean our death
sentence. But what do we really get in return? Other than insomnia,
headaches and anxiety, that is?
Worry is a question of lack of faith! When we worry, we give more
credence to our circumstances than to our God. We let the
adversities of life tune out the voice of God who promised us:
"'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will
protect him, for he acknowledges my name.' (Ps 91:14 NIV) The
question is, do we truly love God from the bottom of our heart? Do
we truly believe in His unfailing love for us?
Reality check: "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them."
(Matt 6:32 NIV)
Do we believe that?
Jesus urges us: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given to you as well." (Matt 6:33 NIV)
When we hunger for God, something miraculous happens. We are filled
with love ("Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1
John 4:7-8 NIV)). When we put our trust in Him, we are filled with
inner peace, even in the midst adversity (I have told you these
things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will
have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
NIV)).
Another reality check: "Each day has enough trouble of its own."
(Matt 6:34 NIV)
We don't need to create more trouble for ourselves by worrying. We
can't experience God fully if we put more credence in our own trials
than in God's promises. We can't expect the miraculous without
complete trust in the One who is the Miracle worker!
So often we worry about what to say to someone. Someone passes away,
for example. What are we supposed to say to the grieving family? Or
someone's spouse has left. What do we say to the one left behind?
We truly worry too much! Remember Jesus' promise? "But when they
arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that
time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking,
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matt 10:19-20
NIV)
God will fill us with His presence. He will guide us in all things,
even in knowing what to say to people! All we have to do is rely on
Him! After all, isn't He the risen One? Isn't He the one who has
overcome the impossible (See Luke 18:27)?
"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a
sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a
well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." (Isa
58:11 NIV)
We either trust in the One who has never disappointed us, or we rely
on our own worries. Believe me, the last option will never give us
any satisfaction!
The poison ivies of life will not last. God always has the last
word!
Rob Chaffart |
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